Boxing

 

Trend setting: Cinderella and her glass slipper, Lennox Lewis and his glass jaw, and the newest member, Johnny Ruiz and his glass cup

Mike Samuels

29.07 - I'm not a fan of Kirk Johnson.

Okay. Now that I got that out of the way, I can continue without worrying about being labeled a "bias Johnson-freak" or any other crazy name that boxing's savage and throat cutting fans can come up with (and believe me, it can get ugly!).

Lately boxing has been packing more drama than a re-run of Beverly Hills 90210. The decisions of the last year have been somewhat controversial (Mayweather/Castillo, Tapia/Medina, Morales/Barrera 2), fighters have not been allowed to weigh in at the same time (Tyson/Lewis, Morales/Barrera), and in one instance, fighters weren't allowed to enter the ring and receive instructions together! This sport is going crazy. I'll be the first to tell you.

And this past Saturday, John Ruiz didn't bite anyone's ears, or shoot up with any drugs, and the decision wasn't controversial. But the fight was that of a fight one would witness on the grounds of a county fair. Ruiz, who is a disgrace to the term Champion and was only given a shot at a title because Don King figured Evander Holyfield would destroy him and rid the boxing public of his boring style, seems to get better at acting with each fight he takes. Of course low blows hurt, but c'mon on! John Ruiz isn't concerned with keeping his title, but more so to be nominated for an Oscar for his gut wrenching turn over on to the canvas, looking as though his gentiles were just removed. It's one thing to get hit low, but to completely over-do it is an act of a coward who is looking for a cheap way out (ala Camacho Jr). It's a shame that Ruiz is champion. A damn shame.

The always firm but fair, Joe Cortez, did a pretty good job considering the entire BS he had to put up with. He took points away from Johnson and that was enough. Those points taken from him were the only thing keeping Ruiz in the fight in my eyes (as it was close, but I can't give Ruiz points for doing nothing but clinching). Ruiz knew that, so he turned into Kevin Bacon and played out the final scene in Murder in the 1st, acting as though a HIP SHOT was knocking the wind out of him. Seriously, the low blow before the disqualification (and I agree to the DQ mostly) was NOT LOW. It was right on the belt line, but when Ruiz acted like every shot that didn't hit him in the face was low, what the hell is Kirk Johnson or Joe Cortez supposed to do?

Stop the fight - and that's just what he did.

Ruiz provides a style that is going to cause clashing, clinching and blows that are somewhat low (just ask Holyfield). So the point deductions, I have no problem with. It didn't appear as though Kirk Johnson was INTENTIONALLY gunnin' for Ruiz's package. I mean, sheesh, get real. However, when I saw John Ruiz let frustration get to him because he clearly wasn't winning the fight how he had wanted too (remember he predicted a knockout), he resorted to a totally ILLEGAL and INTENTIONAL HEAD BUTT!! It was one of the dirtiest things I have ever seen in awhile.

My only question: Where the HELL was Joe Cortez on that one?

Where was the point deduction? Hell, where was the DQ for that act of foul play? Especially knowing full well that Ruiz rammed his head into Bubba on PURPOSE!?!?! I just don't get it. But, hey, I haven't gotten boxing since the eighties - and even then I was a bit shady.

Kirk Johnson, on the other hand, embarrassed his stock last Saturday night. Bubba didn't come to TAKE the title. He tipped, he tapped, and he moved his way to what he thought would be victory. NEWS FLASH: You have to fight to win a championship.

Well maybe you don't. Who did John Ruiz beat again to get his shot? Oh, that's beside the point.

Johnson did not come out strong at all, and not only did he let himself down, but he let boxing down. Hype is the only thing that has surrounded this young Canadian, with a mostly padded record and one win over Larry Donald (he's a stop contender, eh?), and his inexperience and lack to hold up to the pressure showed in TREMENDOUS amounts on Saturday.

That's a shame. A damn shame.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is the purpose of a protective cup, and why does John Ruiz appear to never get one with his trunks?

FIGHT OF THE WEEK: Showtime's Black Rhino and South Africa's White Buffalo battle takes the cake this week (and to think, I decided to be there to cover Ruiz/Johnson instead. What a joke!)

MAD PROPS: This weeks MAD PROPS go out to Larry Holmes, for dominating Butterball and proving that he doesn't belong boxing for big money. And, yes, I predicted it just as it played out (sorry, my ego has been bruised within the past few weeks, so ya know!).

FINAL NOTE: I'm expecting a lot of Ruiz/Johnson fan mail for next week's mailbag! So If you haven't already, drop me some of your thoughts!

Mike Samuels can be reached at Tyson180@aol.com

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